Denver plans up to 80 cold-weather shelter nights for 2026–27
The plan sets weather and capacity triggers for activation and lists regular capacity for up to 600 adults and 200 families.
Denver’s Department of Housing Stability (HOST) plans up to 80 nights of cold-weather shelter from Nov. 1 through April 30 in the 2026–27 season. The agency presented the plan to the City Council’s Community Planning and Housing Committee on Sept. 29; it lists regular capacity for up to 600 adults and 200 families.
HOST would activate cold-weather shelter only when the existing shelter system exceeds capacity and at least one weather trigger is met: a National Weather Service advisory, watch or warning; a forecast overnight low of 25 degrees or below; or at least 2 inches of forecast snow.
The plan identifies a separate family shelter at 4280 Columbine St. that could serve up to 20 families, or about 60 people. HOST projected that it would open in fall 2026, ahead of the cold-weather season, contingent on contracting and site preparation. The presentation does not clarify whether Columbine’s capacity is included in the plan’s 200-family figure.
HOST’s family goals include reducing the shelter waitlist to fewer than 100 families and reducing family homelessness by 20%, to fewer than 455 households recorded in the Homeless Management Information System by Dec. 31, 2027.
HOST also lists 4001 Monroe St., the former tiny-home village site, as a planned first-tier cold-weather shelter. A separate HOST presentation describes the project as intended to replace aging shelter infrastructure and add capacity in northeast Denver. HOST and Councilmember Watson planned a community information meeting about the site for Oct. 8.